The Science of Thriving – What Children and Communities Need (with Dr. Jack Shonkoff)

What does it really take for children to thrive—not just individually, but within families and communities? In this episode of Thrive Dispatches, host Dr. Matt Biel speaks with Dr. Jack Shonkoff, renowned pediatrician and funding director of Harvard's Center on the Developing Child, about what he calls Early Childhood Development 2.0.

Together, they unpack how decades of developmental science point beyond parent-child relationships to include broader community and environmental factors. From systemic inequities to housing stability and even air quality, Dr. Shonkoff argues for a radically expanded approach to early childhood policy and practice.

Listen in as they discuss:

• Why responsive relationships are necessary but not sufficient

• The shift from “being nice” to grounding care in cutting-edge science

• How public investment and real-world impact can—and must—align

• The urgent need to adapt programs for the children they’re not yet reaching

This is a rich conversation for anyone working in child health, education, social policy—or who just wants to understand how to build a world where all children can thrive.